Clayton State University Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Why are Retention and Graduation Rates Important?

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding how retention and graduation rates impact you.
First year retention rates let you know how many students come back for their sophomore year.
Graduation rates tell you how long it takes to complete a degree at Clayton State University.
Remember, every extra semester it takes to graduate will increase the cost of your degree.

Clayton State University Has a Lower Than Average Freshman Retention Rate

In order to graduate you have to make it past freshman year.
With only 69.0% of students staying
on to become sophomores, Clayton State University has freshman retention rates below the
national average.

Nationwide, the average first year to second year retention rate is 71.0%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Georgia, the average is 67.0%.

Overall, 40.8% of Clayton State University Undergrads Finish Within Six Years

At Clayton State University, there were 1,435 bachelors degree candidates in
the class of 2012.
By 2014, six years after beginning their degree, 40.8%
of these students had graduated.
After an additional two years, 44.1% of this class eventually completed their degree.

We consider the "on-time" graduation rate for a bachelor's degree to be four years, but colleges typically report their graduation rates after six or even eight years.

Overall Clayton State University Six Year Graduation Rate (40.8%)

0%

100%

Overall Clayton State University Eight Year Graduation Rate (44.1%)

0%

100%

This implies that 55.9% did not graduate within eight years.
Of these 803 students,
23 were still working towards their degree,
523 had transferred to a different institution, and
Clayton State University lost contact with the remaining 256
whom we assume dropped out.

Some Students Take More Time to Graduate

First time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years (on-time).
Some schools cater mostly to traditional students while others cater to “non-traditional” students who may be attending part time and thus are likely to take longer to graduate.

Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.

First Time / Full-time Students at Clayton State University Represent 26.0% of the
Class of 2012 and 22.9% of all
Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a four year graduation rate of 9.0%,
first time students in the Clayton State University class of 2012 who attended classes
full-time were among the least likely in the nation to graduate on time.
After six years, the graduation rate was 34.3%
and by 2016, 38.9%
of this class had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first time undergraduates attending classes full-time is:
32.8% after four years,
47.6% after six years, and
49.2% after eight years.

Clayton State University is Graduating Students Slower Than we Expected

Studies have shown that high-achieving students are more likely to complete their degree on time.
Given the academic preparedness of the first time / full-time students accepted to Clayton State University, we expected
that after six years about 39.7% of them would have
completed their undergraduate degree.

Nationwide Rankings for First Time / Full-time Graduation Rates at Clayton State University

Four Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,795 out of 2,136)

worse

better

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking (2,660 out of 3,836)

worse

better

Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking (2,472 out of 3,835)

worse

better

61.1% of the Fist-time / Full-time Class of
2012 had not Completed Their Degree by 2016

Of these 228 students,
4 were still working towards their degree,
162 had transferred to a different institution, and
Clayton State University lost contact with the remaining 62
whom we assume dropped out.

First Time / Part-time Students at Clayton State University Represent 15.7% of the
Class of 2012 and 8.5% of all
Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 17.8%,
first time students in the Clayton State University class of 2012 who attended classes
part-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 24.0%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first time undergraduates attending classes part-time is:
22.2% after six years and
24.5% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for First Time / Part-time Graduation Rates at Clayton State University

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,198 out of 2,688)

worse

better

Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,004 out of 2,687)

worse

better

76.0% of the First Time/ Part-time Class of
2012 had not Completed Their Degree by 2016

Of these 171 students,
10 were still working towards their degree,
109 had transferred to a different institution, and
Clayton State University lost contact with the remaining 52
whom we assume dropped out.

Returning / Full-time Students at Clayton State University Represent 33.5% of the
Class of 2012 and 44.7% of all
Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 57.6%,
returning students in the Clayton State University class of 2012 who attended classes
full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 58.8%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for returning undergraduates attending classes full-time is:
55.0% after six years and
56.2% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for Returning / Full-time Graduation Rates at Clayton State University

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,820 out of 3,698)

worse

better

Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,811 out of 3,698)

worse

better

41.2% of the Returning / Full-time Class of
2012 had not Completed Their Degree by 2016

Of these 198 students,
6 were still working towards their degree,
122 had transferred to a different institution, and
Clayton State University lost contact with the remaining 70
whom we assume dropped out.

Returning / Part-time Students at Clayton State University Represent 24.8% of the
Class of 2012 and 23.9% of all
Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 39.3%,
returning students in the Clayton State University class of 2012 who attended classes
part-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 42.4%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for returning undergraduates attending classes part-time is:
36.8% after six years and
38.6% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for Returning / Part-time Graduation Rates at Clayton State University

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,256 out of 2,967)

worse

better

Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking (1,222 out of 2,966)

worse

better

57.6% of the Returning / Part-time Class of
2012 had not Completed Their Degree by 2016

Of these 205 students,
3 were still working towards their degree,
130 had transferred to a different institution, and
Clayton State University lost contact with the remaining 72
whom we assume dropped out.